PS4 - Features and Interface Detailed

During a press event in New York last evening, Sony detailed the PS4’s interface and features.

The following are the details from the event:

Speed is the greatest improvement with the PS4. The system almost instantaneously loads functions such as loading videos, web browser and party chat.

Using the home button on the DualShock 4 – a double press will take you to the last opened app. Switching from game to other apps is seamless as well.

Chat and messaging is cross-platform between PS4 and Vita, as well as smartphones and tablets with the PlayStation app installed.

There is no time limit when streaming to Twitch, so you can broadcast automatically from your PS4. The console maintains a 15 minute buffer of recorded gameplay so you can share while not actively streaming or recording.

Distribution lists and social media integration make sharing content easier.

Movies and music are entirely cloud based, so you will never have to download them or free up hard drive space.

Some games will support a choice of what content to grab first when downloading from the PlayStation Store. For example, Call of Duty: Ghosts offers the choice of single-player or multiplayer content first.

As far as downloads, one menu option – off by default – will allow you to download updates and content in standby mode, and to use the PlayStation App to wake the system remotely.

In case you missed the official PS4 unboxing video, you can check it out right now.

The PS4 releases November 15 in North America and November 29 in Europe and everywhere else.

Are you excited?